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Sat, 25 May 2019 23:58:31 +0800Joomla! - Open Source Content Managementen-gbcnweb@catholicnews.sg (CN Web)Pope signs measures to guarantee financial transparencyhttp://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5473&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=en
http://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5473&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=enThe pope issued an apostolic letter on Dec 30 that established the Financial Information Authority as an independent agency to oversee the monetary and commercial activities of all Vatican-related institutions, including the Vatican bank.

At the same time, the Vatican promulgated a detailed new law that defined financial crimes and established penalties – including possible jail time – for their violation. The list of transgressions includes corruption, market manipulation, fraud and virtually any activity that facilitates or provides funding to acts of terrorism.

]]>JANUARY 16, 2011, Vol 61, No1Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:07:03 +0800Three Anglican bishops received into Catholic Church in Londonhttp://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5471&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=en
http://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5471&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=enA canon prays in a Westminster Cathedral chapel. Three Anglican bishops were received into the Catholic Church during Mass at this cathedral. CNS file photo

LONDON – Three former Anglican bishops were received into the Catholic Church just hours after they officially gave up their ministries in the Church of England.

Bishops Andrew Burnham of Ebbsfleet, John Broadhurst of Fulham and Keith Newton of Richborough will be soon ordained as priests for a special Anglican ordinariate that will be set up in England later in January.

Their resignations took effect at midnight on Dec 31, and they were received into the Catholic Church the afternoon of Jan 1 during a Mass in London’s Westminster Cathedral.

They will be ordained as Catholic deacons at Allen Hall seminary, London, on Jan 13, then as priests at a ceremony in the cathedral on Jan 15. They will be incardinated into the English ordinariate, similar to a military diocese, which is expected to be formed by papal decree the second week of January, when Pope Benedict XVI is also expected to appoint its leader.

]]>JANUARY 16, 2011, Vol 61, No1Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:04:12 +0800Vatican post for HK priest China takes issue with Vatican statement on Church congresshttp://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5470&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=en
http://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5470&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=enVATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI has named a Hong Kong theologian as the second highest-ranking official of the Vatican’s evangelisation congregation.

Salesian Fr Savio Hon Tai-Fai (right) will serve as secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, the Vatican announced on Dec 23. With the appointment, he will become an archbishop.

Fr Hon, 60, is a member of the International Theological Commission and the Pontifical Academy of Theology. He has taught theology at the Hong Kong seminary and also at a seminaries in China.

Fr Hon said he anticipates that the Roman Curia may consult him on China Church affairs because of his experience on the mainland. - CNS, UCAN

SEOUL – Catholic interreligious dialogue leaders have met with their counterparts from the National Council of Churches (NCCK) in Korea to devise a series of projects designed to promote Christian unity in the coming year.

The Committee for Promoting Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (CBCK) hosted the Dec 27 meeting with NCCK secretary Kim Young-ju, Metropolitan Ambrosios-Aristotelis Zographos of the Orthodox Church in Korea and other Christian leaders.

His talent for classical singing has led him to perform several recitals and concerts at the Arts House, Esplanade and Young Musician’s Society.

But for Christmas last year, musician Daniel Fong, a 22-year-old undergraduate, decided to put his talent to charitable use by organising a Christmas concert at the Church of Christ the King, where he is a parishioner.

From left: Canossian Srs Marcellina Fumagalli, Rose Low and Jane Chong at their jubilee celebration at the Church of St Stephen on Jan 2. Sr Fumagalli celebrated 60 years as a Religious while the other two nuns celebrated 25 years.

Wanted to be a missionary at age of 6

“You find happiness where you are … although there were misunderstandings, obstacles, but among these, my joy was in my heart … I can go on,” says Canossian Sr Marcellina Fumagalli, who celebrated 60 years of Religious life recently.

Although her life has not been without obstacles, she firmly believes that “without some suffering, you cannot achieve anything.” Furthermore, “through suffering united with” Christ, one can accomplish much.

Sr Marcellina said she had wanted to be a missionary from the age of six. Her mother had told her stories about the saints and the young Marcellina had understood that her calling was to be a missionary.

]]>JANUARY 16, 2011, Vol 61, No1Mon, 17 Jan 2011 08:09:57 +0800Church agency targets at-risk youthshttp://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5440&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=en
http://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5440&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=enYouth workers Charlene Heng and Philip Ong say they have been stared at by hostile-looking youths when they talk to other young people at a hawker centre or coffeeshop.

Special programme helps YouthReach identify those involved in gang-related activities

YouthReach, a Church-run youth service agency, is now working with the police to reach out to young people involved in street gangs.

The organisation, a joint outreach project of Catholic Welfare Services and Boys’ Town, started conducting the government-funded Streetwise Programme (SWP) in November.

The six-month long programme includes counselling, life skills, career guidance, and recreation and social programmes to help delinquent youths start life afresh.

Prior to this, YouthReach was conducting its own Street Outreach programme in Tampines, where the agency is located. It stopped this programme last October after six months.

The youth workers realised that “it was not easy to just walk around, sit down and say ‘hi’ to them [the youths]” due to the youths’ mobility,” said YouthReach’s senior social worker Charlene Heng.

The youths might not always be at the same location; thus the youth workers may not be able to follow up with the same group of people.

]]>JANUARY 16, 2011, Vol 61, No1Sun, 09 Jan 2011 16:00:00 +0800'Peer pressure led me to join gang'http://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5441&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=en
http://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5441&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=enHe said he got to know about peers joining such gangs when he started playing street soccer with his secondary school friends.

Mark, who is now in his late 20s, said joining street gangs was not about protection, but rather of enjoying a sense of security which comes from belonging to a group.

While some youths eventually leave these gangs, some will continue to hang out in an area where they will get acquainted with “uncles” who will offer them work and money.

That is when their involvement in secret societies begins, said Mark.

It was due to friendship, or yi qi in Mandarin, that he and his group of friends started working for secret societies, partly also to earn a living.

“You don’t feel comfortable. Every day you have the feeling of not knowing when you’ll be caught. … It’s a nightmare,” he recalled. He said he eventually left the group for the sake of his family. The parting was an amicable one, he said. ]]>JANUARY 16, 2011, Vol 61, No1Sun, 09 Jan 2011 16:00:00 +0800Cathedral structural investigations ongoinghttp://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5442&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=en
http://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5442&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=en

The pillars at the back of the Cathedral supported by beams. Photos: Darren Boon

Structural investigations on the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd are ongoing and should be completed in a few months’ time, says Fr Adrian Anthony.

Only then will cathedral authorities have a better idea of the extent and cost of restoration work, said Fr Anthony, who is the cathedral rector.

There are plans for the construction of a multi-storey annex building which will replace the present one-storey building on the cathedral grounds. The new building will house offices, meeting rooms.

There are also plans for a counselling centre to serve foreigners needing help as well as Singaporeans, said Fr Anthony.

He said that so far, several people, on their own initiative, have contributed a total of about $5 million, with one donor giving as much as $1 million.

]]>JANUARY 16, 2011, Vol 61, No1Sun, 09 Jan 2011 16:00:00 +0800Adjustments to migrants' programmehttp://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5443&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=en
http://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5443&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=enThis is to cater to workers who have only two off days a month and so are unable to attend weekly programmes.

Courses for 2011 will commence on the second Sunday of February.

The eight-month-long programme offers courses in international cooking, hairstyling, baking and decoration, handicraft, dress-making, facial and body massage, guitar, and English. Programmes are run by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM) Sisters and assisted by volunteers.

Graduates are enjoying a better life for themselves and for their families, and some have even started small businesses of their own in their home countries, said FMM Sr Rosalind Chan.

The fee is $80 per course.

For more information, contact Sr Rosalind at 8182 3591 (mobile) or 6280 0451 (residence from 9am-9pm) or Nora Pamplona at 9055 6987.

By Darren Boondarrenboon@catholic.org.sg ]]>JANUARY 16, 2011, Vol 61, No1Sun, 09 Jan 2011 16:00:00 +0800Pontifical council member wants religions to join hands for poorhttp://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5444&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=en
http://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5444&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=enMr Michael Thio who has been appointed a member of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, in an audience with Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.

Mr Michael Thio, recently appointed a member of the pontifical council coordinating the Church’s charitable efforts, says he wants to promote joint efforts among different faiths and within the Catholic Church itself to serve the underprivileged.

“I want to encourage interfaith collaboration and dialogue to serve the needy,” said Mr Thio, who was appointed a member of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum (one heart) by Pope Benedict XVI on Dec 29.

Mr Thio, who was elected President General of the International Confederation of the Society of St Vincent de Paul last May, said he also wants to promote greater “collaboration among global Catholic charities” to serve the needy in the “total sense” of the word.

These people are not just the financially deprived, he stressed, but also include abandoned and delinquent children, the elderly, those neglected by family members and those who come from broken homes.

On being a member of Cor Unum, he said, “I feel it’s an honour,” adding that he accepts it on behalf of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SSVP).

]]>JANUARY 16, 2011, Vol 61, No1Sun, 09 Jan 2011 16:00:00 +0800Sharings at Christian Unity Weekhttp://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5446&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=en
http://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5446&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=enSpeakers from the Anglican, Methodist and Mar Thoma Syrian Churches will speak on topics such as prayer and fellowship based on this year’s theme – “They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer” (Acts 2: 42-47).

“It is our hope that a format of this kind may begin to stimulate conversations during the refreshment time on the sharings, and that it will continue to encourage further informal and frequent conversations during year,” said Good Shepherd Sr Elizabeth Lim, who is on the Archdiocesan Council For Inter-Religious and Ecumenical Dialogue (IRED)

The forum will be held on Monday, Jan 24, at the Church of Divine Mercy at 8 pm. Monsignor Eugene Vaz will be the moderator. The evening will begin with prayers, including Taize-style prayers, as an introduction to the sharing.

On Wednesday, Jan 19, a prayer service, followed by fellowship will be held at the Mar Thoma Syrian Church at 29 Jalan Keli in Upper Thomson Road, near to Church of the Holy Spirit, at 8 pm.

By Darren Boondarrenboon@catholic.org.sg ]]>JANUARY 16, 2011, Vol 61, No1Sun, 09 Jan 2011 16:00:00 +0800Parish comes up with dress codehttp://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5447&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=en
http://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5447&catid=261&Itemid=473&lang=enAt least one parish in Singapore has come up with a dress code for those attending Masses.

In its Dec 26 bulletin, the Church of St Anthony (above) said that after a survey on appropriate attire, it has decided to forbid the wearing of:* Clothing made of spandex (skin-tight) and translucent (see-through) materials. * Clothing exposing the entire shoulder, chest, back or thighs. * Clothing promoting violence and vices such as drug and alcohol consumption. * Sportswear and flip flops.

His talent for classical singing has led him to perform several recitals and concerts at the Arts House, Esplanade and Young Musician’s Society.

But for Christmas last year, musician Daniel Fong, a 22-yearold undergraduate, decided to put his talent to charitable use by organising a Christmas concert at the Church of Christ the King, where he is a parishioner.

The hour-long concert, titled An Evening of Carols and Sacred Music, was held on Dec 20 evening, and was the first such event for charity held in the church.

From familiar carols such as Away In A Manger and Silent Night to lesser known sacred music such as Howard Goldall’s The Lord Is My Shepherd, the more than 150 parishioners and friends who packed the attic of the church in Ang Mo Kio were left enraptured by the trio.

With this humble cry of recognition of John the Baptist from this Catechetical Sunday’s Matthean Gospel, I greet you all my sisters and brothers in the catechetical ministry.

Indeed, together with the Baptist, we too are overcome with gratitude when we realise that Our Lord chooses to manifest His presence through the humble signs of the Church’s liturgical tradition – bread and wine, water and oil, light and colour – these simple liturgical signs point to the Incarnate Presence with us throughout the year. Indeed how moved we must be to realise how simple and small God makes Himself for us, and yet how enduring and powerful!